Piktochart

An infographic is a visual representation of information. Infographics can be seen as charts or diagrams or a creative image meant to express information.

Data journalists make use of infographics as a tool to represent the story that they are trying to express.

In class we went over different websites that offer a way for people to create infographics for free.

The webite that I used was http://piktochart.com/

Piktochart offers a series of templates and options for users to pick from to create their free infographs. There is also the option to create an infograph from scratch on the website itself.

Personally, I created an infographic on PlayStation console launch prices. I was able to create a chart to show the prices of the different PlayStation consoles the year they came out and compare them the their prices in the year 2013.

The website let me choose different types of graphs. I was also able to customize the colors of the graph, the backgrounds, and the fonts for each block. There are also a series of fonts that you can choose from when creating your infographic.

Apart from the graph stating the prices of each PlayStation console, I also added a section focusing mainly on the PlayStation 4. There was an area that stated the overall number of ps4 consoles shipped worldwide within the first year. And there was a section for suggested launch prices in selected countries.

Piktochart gave me the option to select from a wide range of images. There is also a search bar when looking for an image that will select the closest picture to your search for you. There are also different types of images, from clipart to real pictures.

For the section that mentioned the number of consoles shipped worldwide, I added a clipart image of a controller. I was able to find this easily by searing “playstation” in the search bar.

In the other section – suggested launch prices in selected countries – I was able to find the flag of each of the countries I had selected.

Infographs in general are used to help the readers understand a large collection of data at an easier rate.

Infographics offer information in a more compressed form. If I were to type out each PlayStation console, the year it was created, the price of the console during that year, and the price of the console in 2013, it would take line after line to complete. But the infograph allowed me to give that information in a chart form – or a single image.

Viewers are able to understand the intended information easily in a smaller space.

Piktochart offers a series of possible charts, images, templates, and more that allow users to create a general infographic. One of the importance factors in creating a successful infograph is making something that is “catchy”. Piktochart offers a good selection, especially for beginners, in creating good infographics that are appealing to the eye.

It is important to select a combination of colors that go well together. The images should also flow easily with the rest of the infographic. There should be a sense of unity with the overall image.

Apart from that, the images used should be logical and relevant to the information being presented. There are people that are extremely visual, and the use of contradictory images could confuse them in the long run.

These are just a few of many different factors that people need to keep in mind when creating an infograph. Piktochart is a great website to start with. It also gives the option to share your infographs with other users and create a general network through the website itself.

Exams just ended?

The 7^th week exam didn’t get a chance to fully end before students were slammed with deadlines for projects that would replace week 12 exams.

It sounds all nice and fun, no exam, we have a project. But this reality isn’t a fun one when you have 4 (so far) due on the same two consecutive days.

Studying is one thing, but finding the time to work in groups on certain projects is another. Especially when there are very specific details and rules that we’re supposed to follow.

On top of that, we have regular assignments to keep up with that will all eventually add up to a grade that will hopefully be better than the last. (Week 7 exams were lovely for everyone – please note my sarcasm if you haven’t already)

It’ll definitely be a challenge and something to watch – the students will also have to test their will power to continue the semester with any resemblance of effort. Day after day it becomes more apparent that people are starting to “mentally check out” as they approach the end of the semester.

One can only imagine the level of motivation that will be present at the start of next year – senior year. But then again, why are we thinking that far? Who knows the level of motivation that will be present around finals week *.

Data Journalism

The difference between data journalism and regular journalism is that data journalism uses data to visually explain events in an appealing way to the public. When something happens there are automatic reports on the event. Regular journalists fight to be the first to publish a story on the event. By doing so, it gives them the upper hand, and a high audience number.

Journalists would have to go through training to be able to learn the right ways to use data and eventually become a data journalist. A lot of questions would come up and data journalists need to be prepared to answer any question that would be thrown their way.

Data is more than just numbers and statistics. Over time it evolved from being a set of numbers on a spreadsheet to something more tangible for people to understand. The digital age has made it possible to create various infographics and other visual forms for people to understand information. Data could also be considered a puzzle – especially when looked at by aspiring data journalists. Data journalists need to figure out how to put the data they are given together before publishing it to the readers.

Today there is a high rise in personal blogs, people reporting through twitter and their other personal accounts, and other forms of “citizen journalism”. Before this was seen as a threat to the world of journalism, but it is an opportunity for data journalists.

What data journalists do is they compile all of the information and combine it in a visual that shows the event through all angles. There are eyewitness events, facts, and opinions from various sides that enrich the story.

Data journalists are also able to tell a story in a way that offers valuable information to the public in a short compressed form. It is also easy to understand.

The way that journalists compile data is by using different programs to gather and combine information from various sources. There are sources that go unnoticed from the amount of options that there are on the internet. Through data journalism, even the ignored sources are used as a base to writing stories. Data journalism also forms connections between different perspectives or stories on the same event.

After gathering all of the information and combining them, data journalists then create infographics. These infographcis are an easy display of the information to the public. They also explain how a story is relatable to the people. The people can also make their own connections via the information given.

Of course, data journalists need to keep in mind that their reports, like any other, will attract skeptical readers with their own opinions and criticism on the information given. But the advantage that data journalists have over regular journalists is that they have more power over shaping the general story. Data journalists are able to form the mindset that people could take based on their information.

The reason behind why data journalists are able to shape stories that that they offer a promise along with the infographics and visuals that they use. Regular journalist reports will state the information of the event and very limited information on anything else that could be related. Data journalism adds another element. What they do is offer a sneak peak into the future. You can see a general idea of how thing will continue in the future regarding various statistics.

The ability to give an idea of the future is extremely helpful in regards to translating hard information in a visual form. Data journalists can take an event, like a riot, and create an infographic giving all kinds of information. If the information were to be written out it would take lines upon lines to explain each detail. Data journalists are able to report the total number of people involved, casualties, fatalities, any property damage and more in one image.

Apart from the ability to show information in an easy way, it also translates information in a visual form that makes sense to the readers. There are many situations that are hard to understand just by reading about them.

Marlog 4 - great success!

The Mena and Africa Arab International Women’s Maritime Forum came to a great end! The 4^th annual start has been a great success!

The forum was held and sponsored by the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

This year the IMO’s lectures were more than informative and interested, covering up to date topics for the conference.

There were also more participants than any other. The countries involved have also increased in comparison to previous years.

Countries of the women involved include:

Egypt

Sudan

South Sudan

Djibouti

Yemen

Iraq

Jordan

Jordan - Aqaba

Tunisia

Morocco

There are high expectations for the next forum!